Blackhawks at Islanders
After turning in a wretched performance against one last-place team, the Chicago Blackhawks hope to turn in a better effort against another one when they visit the New York Islanders on Saturday night. Chicago takes a five-game losing streak into the matchup against the Islanders, who are bringing up the rear in the Metropolitan Division.
Two nights after they were eliminated from playoff contention, the Blackhawks absorbed a 5-2 beating at home from a Vancouver club that had scored only seven goals in losing its previous seven games. Chicago is the only team in the Central Division with a losing record and one of only three clubs in the Western Conference that has yet to reach 70 points after amassing 109 a year ago. New York has won only twice in its last 14 games (2-8-4) but showed some moxie with a belated comeback in Thursday's 7-6 loss to Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay. "It’s not good enough but it was great to see the way some of the guys stepped up," coach Doug Weight said after the Islanders stormed back by scoring three unanswered goals in the third period.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), MSG Plus (New York)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (30-36-9): Chicago's backup plan at goaltender since the late-December injury to Corey Crawford continues to be a nightmare, with Thursday's loss marking the 10th time this season that the team has yanked its starter. Jean-Francois Berube gave up four goals on 18 shots against the Canucks as the Blackhawks allowed at least five goals for the fifth game in a row. “You’ve all got to assume some responsibilities," coach Joel Quenneville said. "You can’t point the fingers at just the goalies.”
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (31-33-10): New York also is struggling to slow the opposition, allowing at least six goals for the third time in five games and becoming the first team since Toronto (2008-09) to permit at least six goals in 12 games. Three players scored twice for the Islanders, including Ryan Pulock, who became the first rookie defenseman in franchise history to notch two power-play goals in a game. "Pulie was the best player on the ice tonight," Weight said after Pulock extended his point streak to a career-best five games.
OVERTIME
1. The Islanders are 9-for-18 on the power play over the past four games.
2. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (upper body) will miss his second straight game. He will be re-evaluated next week.
3. New York ended a five-game losing streak in the series with a 7-3 win at Chicago on Jan. 20.